Improvement in box-fasteners



E. MCKINNEY.

Box-Fastener.

No 219,751. Pa tented Sept. 16,1879.

mvmurom 1 WITNESS ORNEYS.

N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHQGMIMER. wAsmMGYoN, D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

EDMUND MCKINNEY, OF KEY PORT, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOX-FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,751, dated September 16, 1879; application filed March 19, 1879.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, EDMUND MCKINNEY, of Key Port, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Lock for Grates, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to furnish a simple and efficient fastening device for crates used in transporting fruit and other produce.

The invention consists in a hasp secured upon the cover of the crate, and a-socket-piece fitted with a locking-spring tongue, secured upon the box for holding the hasp, in connection with a screw for clamping or looking the parts to prevent their disconnection.

The device is shown in the accompanying drawings as applied upon a crate.

Figure l is a front view. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line a; w.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The hasp A is attached upon the cover of the crate B in the usual manner. The swinging end a of the hasp, instead of being slotted, is formed atits outer end with a key or a hook, as shown at b. v y

C is a socket adapted for attachment to the end of crate B ina position for receiving the end b of the hasp. At the inner side of G is attached a spring-tongue, c, that projects below the socket, and is fitted with a knob, d, by which the spring-tongue is manipulated. The tongue 0 is attached upon the frontside of the socket, and its moving end is retained by spring-pressure against the front of the crate, whereby, when the hasp end a enters the socket, it passes behind the spring and presses it outward until the lug or hook I) is caught by the slot e in the spring.

To release the tongue the spring a is drawn outward, and for the purpose of preventing accidental disconnection of the parts and pilfering from the crate, the socket is fitted with a screw-pin,f, that. can be screwed inward to clamp tongue 0 tightly.

The screw f is preferably made with a slotted head, requiring a suitable tool to turn the screw.

By the above-described fastening the crates are readily secured without any parts liable to be disconnected, and when filled may be locked rigidly for transportation.

The fastening is automatic in action, requiring no operation to fasten the box except to shut the lid or cover. The spring is so arranged that pressure from close packing or rough usage will not disconnect the fastening, and the device is applicable to. any form of box or crate.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of the hasp A, whose swinging end a is provided with a lug or hook, I), the socket (J, and the spring-tongue 0, provided with the slot 6 and knob d, with each other and with the box or crate B, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. The combination, with the hasp A, socket G, and spring-tongue 0, arranged for operation, as described and shown, of the screw], as and for the purposes set forth.

EDMUND MGKINNEMY.

Witnesses WM. A. 00E, 0. E. NIoHoLAs. 

